The new UCI boss David Lappartient has said that Lance Armstrong was not welcome at the Tour of Flanders in April. He insists that the cyclist who is banned for life will not attend any official function associated with the Belgian monument.

Armstrong has been asked to speak at a high profile event poised for the same weekend as the Tour of Flanders later. The Texan would speak on a number of issues at the event set for Oudenaarde a few days but Lappartient is adamant on him not being at the Tour on race day.(more…)

Alexandre Vinokourov and Alexandr Kolobnev are getting ready to provide answers for the corruption charges that are framed against both of them relating to the 2010 Liege-Bastogne-Liege race incident.

They will be giving their side of the argument in a court in Liege on May 15, 2017. A Swiss magazine L’Illustre had accused Vinokourov of making a payment of 150,000 Euros for conceding the 2010 Liege-Bastogne-Liege race and letting him win the race. The magazine later published email interactions between the two racers to claim that the agreement did happen between the two.

Vinokourov and his friend Kolobnev had denied this allegation from the outset. Vinokourov said that the money paid to his friend was just a loan and nothing else. He said that the money dealings were part of his private life and it is a story built up to degrade him and to blacken his name. Vinokourov said that he regularly gives money as a loan and this is one such loan made to Kolobnev. (more…)

Rigoberto Uran has on two different occasions, come really close to winning the Giro d’Italia.

However, this time around he would be skipping the familiar roads of Italy and make a return to the Tour de France this summer for no more than the fourth time in his decade-long career.

With his return to the Tour, a space would be opening up for him to make a return to the favorable hilly terrain of the Ardennes for the first time since 2013. The veteran Colombian who spoke recently noted that a lot was being changed and this year, he and the team would be trying something different.

“We are changing a lot,” Urán said.

“I believe changes are important, and this year we are going to try something different. We’ll focus more on the classics. [I] won’t go to the Giro after many years in order to prepare well for the Ardennes,” he added. (more…)

Alexander Vinourkov is one of such men as he rarely shows up at interviews and press conferences.

Despite being in charge of one on the biggest and successful teams in the sport of professional cycling, he seems to be a man of few words who finds solace in the sport and cares very little about what others might think about him.

Vinourkov, who is currently in charge of team Astana, has said in an exclusive interview that he believes Nibali can win the Giro d’italia. He expressed his sentiment saying that Nibali’s chances of success at the competition were rapidly growing.

When asked about how he decided that Nibali would aim the Giro, Vinourkov had replied:

“Vincenzo wants to win the Giro d’Italia again. He immediately asked to target the Giro after what happened last year at the Vuelta. He wanted to find new motivation and the Giro d’Italia is something to aim at. (more…)

The former 2012 Olympic gold medalist of Kazhakastan and the current General Manger of the Astana Pro Team, Alexander Vinokourov, is very happy that the three Kazakh riders have resigned their contract with the team.

The U223 champion Alexey Lutensko has signed a two year contract with the team and Vinokourov is seeing this youngster as the future of Kazakhstan cycling. He has joined the Astana team in 2013 and has made an impression in everyone’s mind by winning a few stages of the Tour of Denmark in 2014, Tour of Switzerland in 2015 and Paris Nice Stage in 2016. The manager is encouraging Alexey to be a strong rider and a team man and believes that there are lots in store for the future.

Daniil Fominykh has also extended his contract with Astana team for one year. He has been part of the team since 2014. Vinokourov is very happy for him and is one rider who can give his best for the team and also bring out some good personal results. Vinokourov says that the progressive driver can easily adjust to the team and play the game according to the needs of the team.(more…)

If you have caught images of the latest custom made bike of Alexander Vinokourov you will admit that it is an extravagant piece that is one of a kind.

It is a gold bike that he has received post his victory in the road race of the Olympic Games. The victory that he won in 2012 surely deserves a bike that goes over the top. Many bikers might decide not to draw attention to them and keep their head down to do their work. However, Alexander is of a different mentality. The top bike that he has obtained has been revealed to all his fans and admirers as well as opponents to gawk at, in awe or in envy. The bike has been revealed before the Dubai Tour that is about to start this week. Vino is universally loved, especially in Kazakhstan. (more…)